What’s a “small” change that hit you harder than it should have?

[TheRealBoswell]

I’m still gutted about the recipe change for Robinsons Summer Fruits Refreshed. That was one of my absolute favourites, and Ribena Strawberry was right up there too, but I just can’t get into the new versions at all. I also never got over the switch they made to Robinsons Fruit & Barley Summer Fruits. Anyone else have a “small” change like this that just hit a little harder than expected? What have you been gutted about that's really not a big deal to others?

I miss old 100w light bulbs. Coming home in winter and putting on the lights now is like putting on bedside lamps. Makes me lethargic and cba to do anything.

Oh that brought back memories - I used to LOVE Acqua di Gio.

It was one of the first proper "grown up" perfumes that I bought myself (after I progressed from Patchouli oil, through to Anaïs Anaïs {must Google to see if that's still on the go!}) and then onto this. I can still see myself, sitting in my car in the car park at work, getting that lovely pale green glass bottle out of my handbag and putting a few little sprays on my wrists. Wow, that was a real powerful memory, thanks @gokartdillydilly .

(And yes, I also agree with a PP, Cocopops are shite now.)

The series of small changes to London affecting the people who prefer to drive.
Used to go drive in most weekends at random times and areas.
I prefer/want to drive for various reasons, personal safety a main one.
I know there are public transport/cycle options.
Used to mooch around the many shops, eat out, walk around.

Cost :
Congestion charge
Ulez ( unless exempt )
parking ( finding it is another matter )
4+ hours
Budget £50 + just for above three = entry fee to visit our capital city.

Introducing Speed limit 20 was literally the final straw, as well as low traffic neighbourhood restriction.
A nightmare.
Cyclists zoom past you faster.
You have to super concentrate not to go above such a low limit as speed cameras galore to avoid
penalty points , which can quickly lead to fines/increased insurance premiums ( !!!!!! ).
That is on top of watching out for cyclists/e scooters/pedestrians simultaneously.
It
makes for an utterly mentally exhausting driving experience.
Crossing London takes forever at 20mph.
Must be even tougher in manual cars/vans as you must drive in 1st/2nd gear mostly assume. I feel for people who
do this daily professionally.
Picking a random street that has changed beyond recognition from so many small changes in the aspect:
Chiswick High Rd.
The amount of signage, road markings, traffic lighs, cameras, barrier restrictions is visual hell to navigate.
Sorry this is so
London centric.
Another small, but very much drip
effect change is the closure/reduction/loss of the many amazing, especially furniture/interior stores we had.
Conran shop, main iconic one shut, Marylebone on last visit reduced to 2 floors resembling an outlet store.
Liberty, a shadow of its former self.
Heals likewise.
Habitat gone.
Anyone older remembering the GTC in Sloane Square 😭 ?
Fenwicks Bond Street, it was such a nice cosy dept store, gone.
Topshop gone.
There seem to be little choice between high end designer or low quality imports these days.
Long rant and appreciate it's first world problems and not everybody views our capital city like this.
I rarely go into London now.

Why?

YES!!!

Or they don't even know it is a different perfume and look at you like you are confused

Jammie Wagon Wheels now taste grim and are tiny. Same with Creme Eggs

I mourn the loss of Bliss Bergamot and Vanilla body cream. It reminded me of my honeymoon.

Lacura Spa shower gel from Aldi - just like Sanctuary, but a fraction of the price.

Mint Cracknel, though I got something very similar in South Africa 2 years ago

I think be many moved from perfume to eau de perfume to reach smaller budget market.

Thornton's Special Toffee. It's only available in tiny bags at extortionate prices on Amazon. I used to love a box of special toffee. Bring it back!!!

@HollyKnight Yes!!! Eyelash dye kits. Used to be great and lasted for months. Now literally don't work. Bring back the old Dyelure.

What about Topic??? Are there any EU countries that sell it or similar? I miss it SO much 😢

Another one - Oxford Street. Wow, that's gone downhill.

This was the smell of childhood summers and I’ve missed it for so long.

agree with the people bemoaning sweeteners in fizzy drinks. I actually have a pretty big Coke Zero habit and love the taste, so I’m obviously not averse to sweeteners in diet drinks, but why oh why is it now near impossible to buy a fizzy drink without them? Or just the standard full sugar version? Very very occasionally I’ll fancy one or need one if I felt a bit wobbly and they're hard to find. I always used to give DS flat full sugar Sprite or 7up when he had a vomiting bug and was just starting to keep things down, but it doesn’t seem to exist any more.

@Purplewarrior - oh my goodness, Eau de Givenchy - my all time favourite perfume from when I was a student. Then it disappeared 😿. I think about it all the time.

I once found an old bottle in a French gite amongst a collection of ancient perfumes that the owner had left for visitors to use. It still smelled beautiful and I wish I’d had the courage to ask if I could buy it from her! (I’m sure she’d have thought I was quite mad if I had done 😹)

I also loved Givenchy 111, which I believe is still around to buy online. However, I don’t know if the formulation has changed, (and it’s too expensive to buy without being able to smell it first!)

Do you mean the sponge pudding? Nooo!

There used to be a small chocolate shop in my town. You could go in and buy individual chocolates - 2 in a box and you got to choose.

They were decorated beautifully inside and it was such a pleasure going to get chocolates as gifts or thank yous etc

They closed in about 2002/3 and yet I still miss that chocolate shop

The rent went to £60k and they couldn't make it work any longer, its now a cafe Nero

PRET has been absolutely destroyed, the other day I had a breakfast egg bap and it only had half the normal amount of egg! Their sandwiches have reduced filling and all the staff that used to be happy and cosy now seem sad and tired. They used to give away freebies as their loyalty scheme instead of loyalty cards, but no longer. It’s also way more expensive. Pret used to be my go to and I had really high brand loyalty but now I actively avoid unless I’m at an airport or something.

In 2018 the founders of Pret exited when it was sold to a German conglomerate and I think that was when it started to go downhill.

Yes that's it. They couldn't fix the machinery anymore so did away with them 😭

Hasn't it?! It used to be such a treat to go there on a Saturday. What a decline.

Dove body wash. Doesn’t smell as nice and the texture is a bit spermy.

cadburys.

You're killing spiders? They're harmless!

I thought my hair was changing with age, but it must be the shampoo change 😮 my curls have gone all lanky too!

The high street generally. I know it's not necessarily a "small" change, but I miss the experience of shopping in a variety of shops and department stores.

Try Imperial Leather.

My old doctor always used to recommend sugary lemonade when you were getting over a vomiting bug.

He was the same doctor that said if you must drink when you have cystitis make it lager as it’s less acidic